Fretless Warmoth Neck problem

Truss rod adjustments are the correct way to deal with the issue. I have to adjust mine a few times per year because of the Michigan climate. It's normal for wood to move with humidity changes. Adjusting string height only will not help.

There are several links about setting up your bass in the hardware setup and repair forum. You can do the work yourself.

 

The truss rod is specifically there so one can adjust the neck as it moves due to changes in the environment. I'd go as far as to say that *not* adjusting it to compensate for the weather is not especially healthy for the rod or bass. Or at the very least, for playing.

 

I agree with @jchrisk1 and @mapleglo , the trussrod is meant to accommodate these adjustments. Using it won't hurt the bass, the neck or the fretboard.

 

By all means, the best way to deal with it is to move to Miami!

(Although the humidity may introduce new adjustment problems... )

 

Only do a 1/4 turn at a time (at the most) and don't let the truss rod do the bending, push the neck in the direction it needs to go as you tighten or loosen the truss rod. Your bass strings are putting 400lbs of pressure on that neck.

 

Is it a maple neck? Does it have a finish on it?

 

I wouldn't suggest that at all. What I would suggest is that you send it to me, I'll play it for a couple of years and let you know how it goes in a different environment.

Seriously though, I have two warmoth jazz necks, one thin taper fretted (one of the thinnest necks I've ever played) and one normal thickness fretless. The latter is bird's eye maple with rosewood board. I've not had a problem with either and I previously lived in the Snowy Mountains in Australia where there temps in summer go up around 35c (95f) and in winter go down under 0c (mid to high 20's f) with very little humidity. I now live in Christchurch NZ with similar temps in winter but MUCH more moisture. My necks move very little and rarely need a truss rod tweak...... so yeah, send it to me and I'll check it out

 

Once the bass is properly set up for you, you shouldn't ever have to adjust the saddle height. Just the seasonal truss rod adjustment. No need to bend the neck while making the adjustment. Don't turn more than 1/4 turn at a time, tune it, and let it sit for a couple of hours before you continue. The neck may move a bit over a couple days. So, don't be afraid to make minute adjustments.

 

If you think it's tedious than I would say the problem lies with you. Seriously.

As for the neck: It's wood. Think about it. Trees aren't static. They bend. They twist. They turn. They expand. They contract. They spend their whole lives in motion.

As per the truss rod: The amount of adjustment can't be more than a quarter turn at best - the truss rod can handle it - trust me.

For the record: In the past couple of months I've probably adjusted the neck relief and tweaked the action on my bass 2 - 3 times a month. I would do it every day if I had to.

 

I'm curious, where did you get 400#? The heaviest string tension on a set of strings I could find on the D'Addario sight was ~204lbs. From memory I believe that the LaBella Low Tension Flats that I use are only 132lbs. That's a far cry from 400lbs. Just sayin' . . .

 

I could be remembering incorrectly, but I thought I have a set of D'Addarios on my desk that say 400, I could be completely wrong. I'll check it. I might be thinking of my eight string/dual course bass, but I'll check.

Even at 132, it's better to not try and use the truss rod to move that much tension, just use the truss rod to hold it in place.

 

I hate to break it to you but I live in Florida and have to adjust my neck all the time; humidity changes you know.

And I bet you snapped that previous truss rod because it had never been "exercised", meaning twisted every once in a while. They rust up and seize some times.

 

There's some disagreement about the whole 1/4 turn thing. I turn my truss rods as much as is needed to properly adjust the neck, whether it's a quarter turn or two turns, and never had a problem. If it needs additional adjustment after a while, so be it, but usually not.

 

Strings are usually in the 38-48 pounds/string range. At minimum you can count on adjusting the rod once in the summer and once in the winter if you experience 4 seasons per year.

 

I was going to ask this too.

 

I'll turn mine more than a 1/4 turn as well, but if someone has stripped one then doing a 1/4 at a time is prudent.